Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allentown, PA
VS
Sparks, NV
🏆 Sparks leads 13 of 22 categories
Allentown
Pennsylvania
9
wins
Cost of Living Index
98.4 ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$52,449
Violent Crime Index
72 ✓ Safer
Population
125,292 ✓ Larger
Sparks
Nevada
13
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.2⚠ High
Median Household Income
$82,938 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
104⚠ High
Population
108,025
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allentown, PA
Pros
Homes cost $255k less ($168,800 vs $423,500)
31% less violent crime than Sparks
Rent averages $324/mo less ($1,202 vs $1,526)
Cooler summers — July highs near 86°F vs 92°F
Smaller class sizes — 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio
5% cheaper overall cost of living than Sparks
Cons
Median income trails Sparks by $30,489/yr
Higher unemployment (9.2% vs 6.1%)
Sparks, NV
Pros
Households earn $30,489 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 3.1 pts lower (6.1%)
More college-educated — 25.4% hold a bachelor's or higher
Milder winters — January highs near 48°F vs 38°F
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $423,500
Higher rents — median is $1,526/mo
Property crime (2583.8/100k) runs high vs the U.S. average
Cost of living runs 5% higher than Allentown
Key Differences at a Glance
Allentown
Cost of Living
5% cheaper
COL index 98.4 vs 103.2 (100 = US avg)
Allentown
Violent Crime
31% lower
272.1 vs 394.4 per 100k
Allentown
Median Home Value
$255k less
$168,800 vs $423,500
Sparks
Median Income
$30,489
$82,938 vs $52,449/yr
Sparks
Unemployment
3.1 pp lower
6.1% vs 9.2% unemployment
Sparks
Summer Heat
5.7°F warmer
July avg high 92.1°F vs 86.4°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allentown, PA | Sparks, NV |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 98.4 ✓ Cheaper | 103.2⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $168,800 ✓ Lower | $423,500⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,202 ✓ Lower | $1,526⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $52,449 | $82,938 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 9.2%⚠ High | 6.1%⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 23.6 min | 23.3 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 73 ✓ Safer | 111⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 72 ✓ Safer | 104⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 75 ✓ Safer | 123⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C+ (83) | C+ (88) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 15.9:1 ✓ Smaller | 19.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 18.3% | 25.4% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 81.9% | 85.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Allentown City SD | Washoe County |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 38.4°F | 48.2°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 86.4°F | 92.1°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 47.4" | 8.4" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 33.1" | 6.8" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 125,292 ✓ Larger | 108,025 |
| Median Age | 32.4 | 37.0 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 42.3% | 59.4% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 24.6% ✓ More | 23.5% |
| Over 65 | 12.5% | 15.5% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allentown's cost of living index is 98.4 vs Sparks's 103.2 (US average = 100).
Allentown is 5% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Sparks leads 13 of 22 categories. Allentown wins 9 and Sparks wins 13. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allentown to Sparks or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($168,800 vs $423,500 median home), income ($52,449 vs $82,938), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allentown, PA and Sparks, NV are about 2,315 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.